“My unsolicited advice to her (Arroyo) is for her to face the charges first. Then when she is put behind bars, then that’s the only time she can request for medical treatment abroad,” Estrada told The STAR.
Estrada recalled that his US-based physician, Christopher Mow, even appeared before the Sandiganbayan special division to seek permission for him to be allowed to undergo knee surgery in Hong Kong.
“I requested only one country and that is Hong Kong because my doctor said his equipment were all in Hong Kong. He was suggesting that I undergo medical treatment in the US, but I decided to undergo knee surgery in Hong Kong,” he said.
He said there was no “iota of doubt” regarding his request to undergo medical treatment abroad because he turned down the offer of former justice secretary Hernando Perez after he stepped down from Malacañang, that he leave for any country of his choice provided that he signs a resignation letter.
“I was offered twice, but I turned it down twice… There is only one specific hospital that I requested and that was in Hong Kong. I left the country only with my wife and three policemen. There is also no wild thinking that I will escape,” he said.
“She must present only one specific hospital where she would be treated. My doctor is from Stanford in the US. But he told me he will perform the surgery in Hong Kong,” he added.
Estrada said he sought medical treatment abroad because there was no medical specialist in the country who could handle his surgery at that time.
“But now there are many hospitals with complete equipment to conduct the surgery needed by Arroyo,” he said.
